You have one of those MAJOR hands. Most of the cards in your hand are in the major suits. Sometimes these hands can be difficult to convey to your partner, but here is a bid designed to solve part of that bidding problem. Flannery!! <--I love this bid.
Flannery uses a 2D opening to show a hand that contains 4 spades, 5 hearts (NEVER 5 spades and four hearts), and 11 to 15 high-card points (no more, no less). This 2D bid is artificial (because it says nothing at all about diamonds) and forcing (partner must not pass). Here is an example of a Flannery hand:
Kxxx ~~~ AQxxx ~~~ Kxx ~~~ x
Four spades, five hearts, and 12 points - a perfect Flannery hand. Once you have opened with Flannery, your partner is now the Captain (will be in control of) of the auction. It will be partner's responsibility to take charge and place the contract where it should be. Partner has several options:
1. Bid 2 hearts or 2 spades, placing the contract and telling the Flannery bidder not to bid again. Both of these bids say, "Thanks for the specific info on your hand, partner. Based on your distribution and my weak hand, we aren't going to do any better than 2 hearts (or spades)".
2. Bid 3 hearts or 3 spades, inviting partner to game. "Oh, partner! That is very nice! We have a fit! All we need for game is for you to be at the upper end of your bid! If you have 14 or 15 points, bid game!! If you only have 11 or 12, you better pass!" With 13 points, the Flannery bidder can take a WAG (wild a** guess) and either pass or bid.
3. Bid game or slam in either minor.
4. Sign off in a minor by either passing 2D or bidding 3C.
5. 2NT, inquiring about the distribution of partner's hand. Partner is saying, "Okay. I know you have 4 spades and 5 hearts. But what is the distribution in your diamond suits?" The responses to partner's 2NT inquiry are:
3C = I have 3 clubs and 1 diamond
3D = I have 3 diamonds and 1 club
3H = I have 2 clubs and 2 diamonds and
I am on the lower end of my bid (11-12 pts.)
3S = I have 2 clubs and 2 diamonds and
I am on the upper end of my bid (14-15 pts.)
3NT = I have 2 clubs and 2 diamonds and an honor in both!
4C = I have 4 clubs (void in diamonds!)
4D = I have 4 diamonds (you got it!! No clubs!!)
I am sure by now you can see the usefulness of Flannery. It is a worthwhile bid for those committed to learning the responses. Don't try to play it unless you have all the responses worked out with your partner! You wouldn't believe the trouble you can get into!! ROFL
The Bidding Box
| |
|
Hey Hey Hey
A great page!!!